Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has expressed his determination to blacklist contractors and suspend officials responsible for delays and shoddy execution of infrastructure projects. He plans to personally inspect the delayed Mumbai-Goa Highway in October and urged the Goa government to develop roadside amenities and promote green initiatives along the route. Gadkari also highlighted the importance of infrastructure for economic growth and sustainable development.
The Bombay High Court has ordered major social media platforms, including Meta, X Corp, and Google LLC, to immediately remove 'vile, abusive, obscene, and defamatory' deepfakes and AI-generated content targeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, emphasising the urgent need for online platforms to curb malicious digital content.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has filed a civil suit against Meta, X Corp, Google LLC, and unknown persons in the Bombay High Court over "defamatory" deepfakes and AI-generated posts concerning the ethanol policy. The court will hear the matter on August 5, with Gadkari seeking a permanent injunction and immediate takedown of the fake content, which he claims has harmed his reputation.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has received permission from the Bombay High Court to file a civil suit against Meta Platforms, X Corp, Google LLC, and other unknown entities for allegedly circulating 'defamatory' deepfakes and AI-generated content against him.
The Indian government has defended its E20 ethanol blending programme, stating that extensive testing and field experience show no evidence of abnormal engine wear, corrosion, or reduced vehicle life, despite a potential 2-6% reduction in fuel economy.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari entertained an audience in Nagpur by singing popular songs at the concluding ceremony of the Khasdar Krida Mahotsav. Fadnavis sang "Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekhi" and Gadkari performed "Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli", receiving enthusiastic applause.
Political leaders and dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, joined devotees across the country in celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with traditional fervour, offering prayers and seeking blessings.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has called for Indian companies to form joint ventures with US companies to leverage new technologies, while also expressing an ambitious target to make India's automobile industry the world's number one within five years.
A special court in Nagpur sentenced two men to five years of rigorous imprisonment for allegedly making threat calls to Union minister Nitin Gadkari in 2023 from a jail in Karnataka.
Police in Nagpur have registered a case against a man for allegedly circulating an objectionable video on social media targeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
The Bombay High Court has identified a worrying trend of foreign nationals infiltrating India, fraudulently acquiring documents like Aadhaar and PAN cards to claim Indian citizenship. The court highlighted serious gaps in inter-agency coordination and document verification, noting that some individuals have engaged in anti-national activities. It urged the Centre to amend the Aadhaar Act to facilitate tracing and deportation, and to establish procedures for dealing with human trafficking and border infiltration. The ruling came during a case involving an Afghan national who overstayed his visa and obtained fake documents to secure an Indian passport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon citizens to celebrate Independence Day with honour and pride, urging them to take a pledge for a developed India. This appeal comes amidst parliamentary sessions marked by protests from both ruling and opposition alliances.
A new digital political phenomenon, the 'E20 Janta Party', is gaining traction on Instagram, mobilising Gen Z against the government's mandatory 20% ethanol-blended petrol (E20) and demanding Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's resignation.
India's Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded with significantly low productivity, marked by frequent disruptions and protests from the Opposition, primarily the Congress, leading to minimal debate on key legislation.
On the back of an aggressive asset monetisation push, the government will press the throttle on the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model - under which private developers fund highway construction - for future highway development, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said.
Why the industry's public position changed is difficult to say. What the developments did establish, though, is that ethanol-blended petrol has become one of the country's most politically and commercially sensitive policy issues.
'Within six months I expect petrol, diesel, and electric vehicles (EVs) to reach cost parity,' says Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
What remained at Shivaji Park was not Gen Z anger but of momentum -- a generation that had, in its own telling, made an emperor bow, and intends to keep singing and meme-ing about it.
The Bombay High Court strongly criticised the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for its failure to secure open manholes, questioning why it acts only after fatalities occur. The court dismissed BMC's progress reports as an "eyewash" following the death of Aslam Shaikh, who fell into an open manhole. Despite BMC's assurances and actions like suspending officials and offering compensation, the court emphasised the need for preventive measures before the monsoon season.
NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse has firmly stated his disinterest in rejoining the BJP, despite being called by Amit Shah, and affirmed his commitment to Sharad Pawar, dismissing recent speculation about his political future.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has launched the Wagon R, India's first flex-fuel car, capable of running on any blend of ethanol and petrol from E20 to E100, aligning with national energy security and sustainability goals.
"I am the Transport Minister, and 40% of the pollution is caused by us," Gadkari acknowledged.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has demanded the immediate disqualification of six party MPs who defected to the Eknath Shinde-led camp, alleging a larger political conspiracy. He accused the BJP of exploiting the Ram Mandir issue and systematically sidelining its own state leaders, while also questioning the rebel MPs' motives and wealth.
Oil-marketing companies (OMCs) are set to significantly expand the sale of flex fuel (E85) across India, with plans to reach 5,000 outlets in major cities by the end of next year, according to Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. This move aims to boost ethanol demand, reduce crude oil imports, and cut carbon emissions, coinciding with the launch of India's first flex-fuel vehicles by Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp.
In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for austerity, political leaders are reducing convoys and promoting public transport to conserve fuel.
Flex fuel motorcycles can deliver "3 per cent higher torque and 7 per cent higher peak power".
The 13.153-km Zojila Tunnel, the world's longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at the highest altitude, and its final breakthrough will be a historic milestone in India's infrastructure history.
The Zojila tunnel, a crucial infrastructure project connecting the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, achieved a significant breakthrough, connecting its two ends and moving closer to providing all-weather connectivity, reducing travel time from 1.5 hours to just 15 minutes.
A man in Nagpur escaped unharmed after being shot at by six individuals on motorcycles. Police suspect the attack is linked to drug peddling and rivalry between criminal groups.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is set to hold a crucial meeting to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi becoming India's longest continuously serving elected prime minister, surpassing Jawaharlal Nehru's record of 4,399 days.
BJP candidate Arun Lakhani, contesting the Maharashtra legislative council elections, addresses the unique situation of his son's marriage to Supriya Sule's daughter, emphasising the separation of politics and family ties.
A man was detained at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Assam government after being found with live bullets during security screening. The incident occurred shortly before the oath-taking ceremony, attended by high-profile BJP leaders and other dignitaries.
'Shekhar Tonite will critique the government, but it will not hit out. The show will nudge and point out what can be done better to bring change.'
The Bombay High Court granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar, convicted in the 2013 Narendra Dabholkar murder case, suspending his life sentence and questioning his identity as the assailant and the integrity of eyewitnesses.
'The petrol lobby is very rich and strong.'
The Indian government is actively developing a policy for flex-fuel vehicle adoption and aiming for 100 per cent ethanol blending in petrol to enhance energy self-reliance, particularly in light of supply disruptions from the West Asia conflict.
The Bombay High Court has granted bail to activist Surendra Gadling, who was arrested in 2018 in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. The bail was granted due to his long incarceration and the unlikelihood of a trial commencing soon.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has warned of a severe economic crisis looming over India, criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's economic policies and foreign travels.
Gaudium IVF and Women Health Limited has introduced artificial intelligence-led infertility treatment in India, integrating advanced embryology tools into routine clinical practice. The AI integration includes systems such as SiD (Sperm Identification Device) and ERICA (Embryo Ranking Intelligent Classification Assistant) to improve precision in key stages of the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) process.
The Congress party has accused Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of conflict of interest, alleging his sons' companies have benefited from the government's ethanol blending policy. The BJP has rejected the allegations.
